Union Bank, N.A., which operates a branch on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach and others on Cable Street in Ocean Beach and Rosecrans Street in Point Loma, has unveiled a new customized, “unbundled” checking ac-count program called Banking By DesignSM.

Union Bank officials say the innovative new way of banking allows customers to design a checking account that fits their needs. Banking By Design “unbundles” the traditional checking account and offers a wide range of optional features, each with associated costs clearly visible and with many at no cost.

New and existing Union Bank customers can design their own checking account by choosing only the services they want. The base cost of $3 per month can be waived if the customer makes one direct deposit of $250 or more each statement period.

Consumers can design their account and, after customizing it, they can call or visit a Union Bank branch to open the account.

Accounts can also be designed in a Union Bank branch with the support of a personal banker, and the ability for consumers to open their Banking By Design account online after customizing will go live in January 2013, giving them yet another convenient option.

Banking By Design’s initial offering is only the beginning as additional feature enhancements are already planned for 2013.

In support of the launch, Union Bank is debuting a new advertising campaign, and will also be adding an interactive viral component that allows users to create a Banking By Design commercial with an opportunity for their commercial to air on television in 2013.

To learn more about Union Bank’s Banking By Design or to design a checking account, visit www.bankingbydesign.com.